Resistance exercise device

ABSTRACT

A resistance exercise device includes at least one stretchable resistance cord, at least one handle with an opening extending longitudinally therethrough and associated with the stretchable resistance cord, a back support associated with the at least one stretchable resistance cord, and a rigid support associated with the back support.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/631,433, filed Dec. 9, 2009 and entitled “Resistance Exercise Device,” and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the use of a resistance exercising and strengthening device. The present invention relates particularly to strengthening the upper body using a resistance device, namely a band having the ability to create resistance from two different directions allowing for balanced muscle involvement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Resistance bands are used in large part for strengthening and conditioning the muscles of the body. The bands can be used in many different ways to target different muscles. Bands can be used singly, grouped, or with accessories that allow the user to attach one or more bands to a stationary object, such as a door for example.

Use of rubber and latex resistance exercise cords in connection with a wide variety of exercises is well known in the health and fitness industry. Typical rubber resistance exercise cords are in the form of hollow tubes that provide resistance in response to stretching of the cords. The amount of resistance typically depends upon the thickness of the tubes. Handles or other structures are secured to the resistance cord to provide exercise features and options.

A problem associated with many resistance bands found in the art is that they tend to rub against the neck of the user and put a lot of pressure on the user's neck during ordinary use of the device. Existing bands may also rub against the user' s arms and back, causing further discomfort during use of the device. Further, existing resistance bands typically include a single band with handles on terminating ends of the band. This limits the resistance of adds to the tendency of such bands to rest on body parts and repetitively rub against those body parts. Devices known in the art also typically include a resistance band that provides resistance from only one direction, under the arm of the user. This can result in unbalanced chest muscle development on the part of the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a resistance exercise device having a back support with a rigid support extending along at least a portion of a length of the back support along a back of a user of the resistance exercise device. Further provided is least one stretchable resistance cord associated with the back support. At least one handle associated is also associated with the at least one stretchable resistance cord such that movement of the at least one handle causes a corresponding movement of the at least one stretchable resistance cord.

In another aspect of the invention, the at least one stretchable resistance cord is a resistance loop, and the back support includes at least one opening extending along a length of a side of said back support. The resistance loop extends through the opening of the back support. Also provided is at least one handle including an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, the resistance loop extending through the opening of the at least one handle.

Another aspect of the invention includes a second resistance loop and a second handle having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough. The second resistance loop extends through the opening of the second handle, and the second resistance loop extends through a second opening of the back support.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a back support, four stretchable resistance cords, each having first and second ends, and two handles, each handle having first and second opposing ends. The first end of the first stretchable resistance cord is attached to the first end of the first handle and the second end of the first stretchable resistance cord is attached to an upper edge of the back support. The first end of the second stretchable resistance cord is attached to the second end of the first handle and the second end of the second stretchable resistance cord is attached to a lower edge of the back support. The first end of the third stretchable resistance cord is attached to the first end of the second handle and the second end of the third stretchable resistance cord is attached to an upper edge of the back support. The first end of the fourth stretchable resistance cord is attached to the second end of the second handle and the second end of the fourth stretchable resistance cord is attached to a lower edge of the back support.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides an exercise resistance device including at least one stretchable resistance loop, a back support including an opening extending along a length of a first side of said back support, the resistance loop extending through the opening of the back support, and a handle including an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, the resistance loop extending through the opening of the handle.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Though some features of the invention may be claimed in dependency, each feature has merit when used independently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a resistance exercise device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating the cord of the resistance device in a relaxed state from the front view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the resistance exercise device of FIG. 1 illustrating the posterior view of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the resistance exercise device of FIG. 1 illustrating the cord pulled in use by a user to the stretched state on one side of the embodiment from a front/side view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the resistance exercise device of FIG. 1 illustrating the cord being pulled in use by a user to the full stretched state on both sides of the embodiment from a posterior view of the user.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of an exercise resistance device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an exercise resistance device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms there is shown in the drawing, and herein will be described in detail, an embodiment with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawing.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a resistance exercise device 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The illustrated resistance exercise device 7 comprises a cord 3 with the ends connected at a joint 6, thereby forming a loop. A pair of hollow handles 1, and two sleeves 5, one on either end of the separating device 4, between the two handles 1. The resistance cord 3 runs within both the sleeves 5 and handle pairs 1.

The cord 3 is shown in a relaxed state in FIG. 1, but can be stretched by application of any suitable pulling force during any type of exercise as shown, for example, in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, to extend the length of the cord 3. The extent of stretching of the cord 3 depends upon the magnitude of the pulling force and the resistance of the cord 3.

The illustrated resistance cord 3 may have any suitable construction, configuration and dimensions. The resistance cord 3 may, for example, be any commercially available elastic resistance cord. The thickness of the cord 3 affects the amount of resistance provided by the cord 3 during exercise. The ends of the cord 3 are conjoined at a joint 6 so the resistance cord 3 is a full loop.

The pair of handles 1 may have any suitable construction, configuration and dimensions. Cord 3 may extend through the inner hollow space 2 of the handles 1. The handles 1 are a place where the user can grip the present device to perform the exercises. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, each handle 1 comprises a slightly rigid section of tubing where the handles 1 are loose to move freely along the cord 3.

Support portion 4 of the present device may be constructed of any suitable material, configuration and dimensions, and support portion 4 may include two sleeves 5, each at an opposing end of support portion 4, the size adapted so as to allow resistance cord 3 to run through sleeves 5. In the embodiment of the present device shown in the drawings, there are two sleeves 5 for keeping separate the opposite ends of the resistance cord 3 contained within the sleeves 5. The support portion 4 functions as a tool to direct the cord 3 at four intended points and to appropriately separate the cord 3 in a useful way within the sleeves 5. It is contemplated that the present device may be modified to include a single sleeve 5 or more than two sleeves 5.

Enclosed within one of the sleeves 5 is a straight length of material (rigid support 8) extending along at least a portion of the length of the sleeve that may have any suitable construction, configuration and dimension, and that is rigid to prevent the resistance cord 3 from bending at a single point, for example, directly around the neck. The rigid support 8 causes the resistance cord 3 to bend where the rigid support 8 terminates at both ends, thus bending at the two intended end points. In the illustrated embodiment, for example in FIG. 4, the resistance cord 3 extends the full length of the rigid support 8 and bends where rigid support 8 terminates, closer to the shoulder than the neck.

The resistance exercise device 7 can be used in connection with a wide variety of exercises, including, for example, any type of exercise relating to strength training, core conditioning, stability and stretching. The resistance exercise device 7 can also be used in any suitable manner. Countless exercises can be performed with the resistance exercise device 7.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, a standing bench press-type movement is employed during use of the present device. The support portion 4 directs the resistance cord 3 on top of the user's shoulder and under the user's arm, providing balanced top-and-bottom chest muscle development for the user. Thus, support portion 4 acts not only as a support for the user of the present device, it maintains a proper positioning of resistance cord 3 to provide for user comfort as well as balanced muscle development. Rigid support 8 directs resistance cord 3 to a comfortable place over the shoulder and prevents resistance cord 3 from rubbing against the neck or otherwise harming the neck of the user.

As shown in the drawings, resistance cord 3 is joined at a joint 6 to form a closed loop of the present device. It is contemplated, however, the multiple resistance cords may be used in order to provide greater resistance for a user of the present device. Each resistance cord may more or less parallel the next, with the ends of each also joining at a joint to form closed loops. It is further contemplated that in some embodiments of the present invention, two or more non-looped resistance cords may be employed. In such an embodiment having, for example, two separate resistance cords, the first cord may extend from a first end of a first handle to a first end of a second handle, while the second cord may extend from a second end of a first handle to a second end of a second handle. The support portion and rigid support of the device remain more or less as described above, serving to direct the two separate resistance cords to proper locations above the shoulder and below the arm.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate additional embodiments of a resistance exercise device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a resistance exercise device 107 having first and second stretchable resistance cords in the shape of loops. The stretchable resistance loops 103 extend through longitudinal openings 102 in a pair of handles 101. The stretchable resistance loops 103 also extend through openings 109 and 110 in back support 104. Thus, the handles 101 are associated with back support 104 by stretchable resistance loops 103. Resistance exercise device 107 shown in FIG. 6 further includes a rigid support 108.

FIG. 6 illustrates a resistance exercise device 207 having connecting rings 212 at each of the corners thereof. Four stretchable resistance cords 203 are provided, and each stretchable resistance cord has a first end that connects to one of connecting rings 213 and a second end that attaches to a handle 201. As shown in FIG. 6, the stretchable resistance cords 203 attached to handles 201 by use of a screw 212, though it is contemplated that any suitable way of attachment may be used and that the resistance cords may be fixably attached or removably attached. Likewise, although connecting rings 213 are shown in the drawings, it is contemplated that any suitable way of attaching the stretchable resistance cords 203 to back support 204 may be utilized, and that the cords may be fixedly or removably attached. Resistance exercise device 207 shown in FIG. 6 further includes a rigid support 208.

Although multiple variations of the present invention are presented above, it is contemplated that the features of the various embodiments described above may be combined in any suitable manner to produce a device that has features of more than one of the embodiments discussed above. For example, a device may be provided with resistance cords attached to the back support via rings or other suitable fasteners, but where the resistance cords extend through openings in the handles such that only two resistance cords are used, each on an opposing side of the device, each attaching to both the top and bottom of the back support at opposing ends of the resistance cord. Any suitable combination of the above variations may be included in a single device.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A resistance exercise device comprising: a back support comprising a rigid support extending along at least a portion of a length of the back support along a back of a user of the resistance exercise device; at least one stretchable resistance cord associated with the back support; and at least one handle associated with the at least one stretchable resistance cord such that movement of the at least one handle causes a corresponding movement of the at least one stretchable resistance cord.
 2. The resistance exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one stretchable resistance cord is a resistance loop, and further wherein the back support comprises at least one opening, said at least one opening extending along a length of a side of said back support, the resistance loop extending through the at least one opening of the back support, and further wherein said at least one handle comprises an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, the resistance loop extending through the opening of the at least one handle.
 3. The resistance exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one stretchable resistance cord is a first resistance loop, and further wherein the back support comprises first and second openings, said first opening extending along a length of a first side of said back support, and said second opening extending along a length of a second, opposing side of said back support, the first resistance loop extending through the first opening of the back support, and further wherein said at least one handle is a first handle having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, the first resistance loop extending through the opening of the first handle, the resistance exercise device further comprising: a second resistance loop; and a second handle having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the second resistance loop extends through the opening of the second handle, and further wherein the second resistance loop extends through the second opening of the back support.
 4. The resistance exercise device of claim 1 wherein said at least one stretchable resistance cord is a first stretchable resistance cord having first and second opposing ends, and said at least one handle is a first handle having first and second opposing ends, the resistance exercise device further comprising: a second stretchable resistance cord having first and second opposing ends; a third stretchable resistance cord having first and second opposing ends; a fourth stretchable resistance cord having first and second opposing ends; and a second handle having first and second opposing ends, wherein the first end of the first stretchable resistance cord is attached to the first end of the first handle and the second end of the first stretchable resistance cord is attached to an upper edge of the back support, and further wherein the first end of the second stretchable resistance cord is attached to the second end of the first handle and the second end of the second stretchable resistance cord is attached to a lower edge of the back support, and further wherein the first end of the third stretchable resistance cord is attached to the first end of the second handle and the second end of the third stretchable resistance cord is attached to an upper edge of the back support, and further wherein the first end of the fourth stretchable resistance cord is attached to the second end of the second handle and the second end of the fourth stretchable resistance cord is attached to a lower edge of the back support.
 5. A resistance exercise device comprising: at least one stretchable resistance loop; a back support including an opening extending along a length of a first side of said back support, the resistance loop extending through the opening of the back support; and a handle including an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, the resistance loop extending through the opening of the handle.
 6. The resistance exercise device of claim 5, further comprising: a second resistance loop; and a second handle having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the second resistance loop extends through the opening of the second handle, and further wherein the second resistance loop extends through a second opening of the back support, the second opening of the back support extending along a length of a second side of said back support. 